Faith in the Forest

How Christian Wisdom Shapes Everyday Bushcraft

There’s something unmistakably spiritual about stepping into the Australian bush. The noise fades, the distractions fall away, and suddenly you’re left with the simple essentials—shelter, water, fire, and the people around you. For me, bushcraft isn’t just about surviving in the wild; it’s about remembering what matters. And as a Christian, I often find that the lessons I teach in Everyday Bushcraft echo the same truths found throughout Scripture.

I never preach on courses, and I never assume what others believe. But I do share what guides me: the values of stewardship, gratitude, connection, and resilience. These values come from my faith—and they also come from the bush itself.

Here’s how the two fit together.

Stewardship: Caring for Creation and Each Other

In Genesis, humanity is asked to “tend and keep the garden.” Whether you’re religious or not, this is a powerful message:

take care of the world and take care of each other.

Bushcraft teaches this naturally.

When we slow down, build a fire responsibly, choose a campsite carefully, and leave no trace, we practise the same stewardship that lies at the heart of Christian life. In the bush, everything we do has an impact—and the more mindful we are, the better the experience becomes for everyone.

Self-Aid: Healing and Wholeness

The first skill in Everyday Bushcraft is Self-Aid—caring for your body and mind so you can keep moving, keep learning, and keep supporting others.

It mirrors one of the central teachings of Christianity: compassion.

The Good Samaritan didn’t walk past the injured man. He stopped, tended the wounds, and restored him. In a similar way, bushcraft reminds us to tend to our own wounds—physical, emotional, and spiritual—so we can be present for those who need us.

Taking five minutes to breathe, check in with yourself, adjust your load, or clean a cut is not just survival. It’s a small act of grace.

Knots: Connection, Commitment, and Strength

Knots are more than technique—they are relationships made visible.

A good knot is about trust. It must hold fast in the wind, under weight, and in unpredictable conditions. The Bible talks often about covenant, commitment, and being bound together as a community. In many ways, our knots reflect our character: patient, precise, dependable.

Every knot we teach is a reminder that the ties we build—friendships, families, communities—are what hold us safely when life pulls hard.

Shelter: Refuge and Belonging

Shelter is one of the most ancient human needs. In the bush, a well-built shelter protects us from wind, rain, cold, and fear.

In Christian faith, shelter is also a powerful metaphor. God is described as a refuge, a fortress, a place of safety. But just as important is the shelter we create for each other—the sense of belonging, acceptance and community.

When scouts or families build a shelter together, you can see the metaphor play out in real time. Everyone contributes. Everyone supports. Everyone benefits. And everyone belongs.

Fire: Light, Warmth, and Purpose

Fire is the heart of every camp. It gives warmth, cooks food, purifies water, and lifts spirits. It draws people together.

Biblically, fire represents guidance, transformation, passion, and the presence of something greater. But you don’t need to be religious to understand the power of a small flame.

Starting a fire the bushcraft way—slowly, patiently, with method and care—is a lesson in itself:

• Don’t rush it.

• Protect the spark.

• Feed it gently.

• Stay with it.

The same is true of purpose, resilience, and hope. Most fires—literal or metaphorical—don’t roar instantly. They grow through nurture.

Water: Clarity, Renewal, and Filtering Out the Noise

Water is life. In both bushcraft and Christianity, water symbolises renewal and clarity.

But perhaps the deepest connection is this: not all water is safe to drink.

Just as we filter creek water to remove what harms us, we have to filter the noise, negativity, and distractions in our everyday lives. Teaching water purification allows for a quiet moment to reflect:

What am I letting into my life?

And what should I be filtering out?

Clean water—clear thinking—life-giving choices.

Wilderness as a Place of Reflection

Throughout Scripture, people step into the wilderness to find clarity, strength, and purpose. Not to escape life, but to re-enter it stronger.

When people come on my courses—kids, parents, veterans, or complete beginners—I often see the same thing happen. The bush has a way of stripping back everything unnecessary. For some it’s spiritual, for others it’s simply peaceful, but for almost everyone it’s grounding.

You don’t need to believe what I believe to benefit from it.

You just need to be open to the lessons the bush offers.

A Universal Invitation

Everyday Bushcraft is for everyone—religious or not, experienced or brand-new. But for me personally, my Christian faith shapes the way I teach:

• with gratitude

• with humility

• with compassion

• with respect

• with a desire to help others grow in resilience and confidence

The bushcraft skills are practical, but they are also deeply human. They remind us all—believers, doubters, explorers, and wanderers—that we were made for connection, community, purpose, and growth.

Whether you call it faith, resilience, reflection, or simply good living, the bush has something to teach us all.